Storage-battery electrode and process of making same



UNITED STAr s I A ENT OFFICE.

HARRY CROSS HUBBELL, OF IRVING'ION, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HUBBELL- FULLER BATTERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

No Drawing. Application filed July 9, 1915, Serial No. 38,901.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Renewed August 13, 1920. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Gnoss Hue- BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage- Battery Electrodes and Processes of Making Same, of which the following is a speclfication.

My present invention is an improved plate or electrode for an alkaline storage battery; and process of making same.

The preferred plate and the preferred process is as follows:

I take for active materials the following parts by weight of nickel hydrate (Ni 801%,), 1%,; parts of cobalt monoxid (Co and 1 part of metallic nickel filaments or fibers and the like. These mate'- rials are thoroughly mixed in the presence of water to form a pasty, thoroughly incorporated mass. This material is dried to a damp condition and is tamped into the end of a narrow, hollow die and is strongly compressed therein by pressure applied through said end of the die to produce a tablet, which may be 1" X 8 x 1 g in size. The damp tablet is then removed, thoroughly dried and pressed again in a heavy punch press. Thus, the tableting pressure is applied par allel with the faces of the resulting tablet. It results in placing as many as possible of the ribbon-like filaments so that their edges as distinguished from their faces are presented to the faces of the tablet, whereby the active material even at the center of the tablet is rendered effective. Fifteen, more ,or less, of these tablets may be assembled in a thoroughly perforated or slotted thin steel envelop, consisting of two plates united by numerous rivets put through the plates and the tablets. Further, the abutting edges of the plates may be crimped and a terminal lug attached. After several charges and discharges, the plate is ready for practical use.

From this plate, I find I get many more ampere-hours than from a plate made wlth cobalt hydrate instead of cobalt monoxid (C00) and the plate is otherwise satisfactory and meritorious.

I prefer to make the cobalt monoxid (COO) as follows: I precipitate cobaltous hydrate from a solution of the sulfate with sodium hydrate. This precipitate, after he ingfiltered and washed, is then slowly heated n an iron cylinder in a gas furnace, the cyllnder being covered and provided with only a small vent hole for the steam to escape. After the water has been driven off, the temperature is raised to a red-heat sufiiclent to change the hydrate to cobalt monoxld. The vent hole is then closed and the cylinder and contents cooled. The oxid is then pulverized and used as above described in connection with the other active materials for making the electrode.

Equivalent materials and modifications in the foregoing may be made without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention and claims. F or example, very finely powdered metallic cobalt, obtained in any way, or some other active anhydrous oxid of cobalt might be substituted for the obalt monoxid.

What I claim is: 1. The process which comprises convertlng precipitated eobaltous hydrate into oXid by heating it without substantial exposure to the air, and cooling it under the same conditions.

2. The process which comprises converting precipitated cobaltous hydrate into oXid by heating it without substantial exposure to the air, cooling it under the same conditions, and mixing it with a nickel material.

3. The process which comprises converting precipitated cobaltous hydrate into exid by heating it without substantial exposure to the air, cooling it under the same conditions, mixing with a nickel material, tableting the mixture, and assembling same in a conducting container.

4E. The process which comprises reducing cobaltous hydrate to oXid by heat without substantial exposure to the air, tablet-ing it mixed with a nickel material comprising filaments, the pressure being applied parallel to the faces of the resulting tablets, and assembling same in a conducting container.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY CROSS HUBBELL. 

